Sure, I complain about being forced to watched Fox News in a waiting room, and I would prefer to watch CNN. I do think, as Barry commented, right-wingers have little to go on in claiming that CNN is leftist propaganda, but no one ought to be forced to watch anything. I don’t happen to have much regard for CNN, but I have particular disgust for CNN.com, as I’ve likely mentioned before. A few aspects of the site summarize my loathing–the story highlights, for those readers below a fourth-grade reading level, the substitution of many written stories for video, for those with no desire to read anything, the tabloid nature of a large majority of the main stories, and, finally, the idiocy of the home page’s Quick Vote poll.

My rant today is generated by today’s yesterday’s Quick Vote, obviously a reaction to the story that British media withheld Prince Harry’s presence in Afghanistan.

Quick Vote
Should the media keep stories secret to protect people from harm?
- Yes
- No

The issue itself is irrelevant. The question’s lack of a third option, something like ‘Depends’, is insulting. CNN.com’s poll questions almost always avoid nuance, and like the rest of their website, seem to discourage any attempt to take a critical look at anything. In this respect, they’re no better than Fox or MSNBC.

I can’t think of any other examples. Trust me, the questions are always just plain dumb.

…

So I typically capture the pulse of what CNN thinks is the pulse of America by browsing the CNN.com main feed rather than going to their odious website. Here are the last five feed items. Which one of the following does not belong?

- Prince Harry back from Afghanistan
- Guns, anarchist manual found in room with ricin [by the way, I'm glad our presence in Iraq is preventing the terrorists from following us back home]
- J. Lo, Mark Anthony name babies
- Palestinians: Israeli attacks kill dozens
- Pills found in fish prompt Gorton’s recall [but, but...I trust the Gorton's fisherman!]